Meet the Newest Prospect: Michael Chaput

The Blue Jackets got a new prospect yesterday in acquiring center Michael Chaput from the Philadelphia Flyers for Tom Sestito. Chaput is currently playing for the Lewiston MAINEiacs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Oh and i’m not kidding that’s the team’s name he’ll be the second MAINEiac ever in the Jackets organiaztion, the first was 2004 1st round pick and bust Alexandre Picard. Chaput was the Flyer’s 3rd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft being selected 89th overall. In Scott Howson’s trade deadline press conference he said Chaput was the key of the deal with the Blue Jackets actually wanting to select him but not having a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft. Chaput is somewhere in the 6’1″-6’2″ range(i’ve seen both on different sites) and appears to play a solid two-way game. He’s played 3 seasons in the Q only playing 29 games and scoring 10 points in 08-09 missing time with a shoulder injury that required surgery. In 09-10 he bounced back and was second on the team in scoring with 55 points in 68 games(28-27-55) which was second on the team in scoring, his 28 goals led the team. This season Chaput is second on Lewiston in most offensive categories(G,A,P,PPG,SHG). Michael has scored 160 points in 152 career QMJHL games with 178 penalty minutes and is a +6 for his career. Chaput also appears solid at the faceoff dot winning 56% of his draws while taking the most on his team and he has won the 10th most in the entire league. Chaput was the 9th overall pick in the 2008 QMJHL draft a draft that included Phoenix first rounder Brandon Gormley and potential first round pick Sean Couturier. In Hockeysfuture’s preseason top 20 prospect rankings Chaput was the Flyer’s 15th best prospect. Chaput is the second member of his family to be traded recently with his older brother Stefan being traded to Boston from Anaheim. In my opinion Chaput is the Jacket’s 3rd best center prospect behind Ryan Johansen and Matt Rust, next season I see Chaput returning to Lewiston next season for a 3rd full season as one of the team’s main offensive weapons. ﻿